ANZ Championship - Round 1 preview

After months of anticipation, the ANZ Championship has finally arrived. A new era of netball is about to begin where trans-Tasman rivalry will become bigger and better than ever before.

The season opener will see the Melbourne Vixens who have been dubbed the ‘Dream Team’ play Suzuki Pulse in Wellington this afternoon. The match up of Australian superstar shooter Sharelle McMahon against English defender Sonia Mkoloma will definitely be one to watch.

In the first game on Australian soil, Queensland Firebirds will duel against West Coast Fever. The Queensland Firebirds have recruited the towering Jamaican shooter Romelda Aiken, who may become an unstoppable shooting machine. West Coast Fever have their sights set on making a inroad into this years competition and with a new look line-up and some English persuasion they may do just that.

The Adelaide Thunderbirds have had a positive pre season with some big names joining the Thunderbirds nest. Mo’onia Gerrard and Geva Mentor make a formidable defensive combination and they will need be at their best to combat the might of Colourplus Magic shooters Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia. Four of the most exciting players in world netball going head-to-head in round one; does it get any better than this?

The SKOPE Tactix and the LG Northern Mystics will do battle in the first all - New Zealand clash on Monday night. With Vilimaina Davu and Tempera George lining up for the Mystics, expect to see the Auckland based side come out strongly but don’t rule out the impact of current Silver Ferns Julie Seymour and Maree Bowden through the Tactix midcourt.

The first round of the competition culminates with the blockbuster between NSW Swifts and Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel at ACER Arena that will see the reigning title holders of the two previous national league competitions do battle. With former Australian international and now Steel utility, Megan Dehn leading the way in the front end against her former club, the Catherine Cox - led Swifts will have their work cut out in a fierce opening match.

It’s been a long time coming; but netball is about to take one giant leap into the future. The best of the best will step foot on court in round one - it will be netball like you have never seen it before.

Saturday, April 5

Pulse v Vixens 14:30(NZ time), Wellington

Sunday, April 6

Firebirds v Fever 13:00 (Aust time), Brisbane

Mystics v Tactix 17:30, (NZ time)Auckland

Monday, April 7

Magic v Thunderbirds 19:00, (NZ time) Rotorua

Swifts v Steel 19:00 (Aust time), Sydney

*All times local